‘Bach to Brazil’ to Montauk

Ani Kalayjian will perform during Music for Montauk’s spring concert.
Jurgen Tabaku

Music for Montauk will kick off its 2018 season with “Bach to Brazil,” a free concert featuring the internationally acclaimed soprano Rachelle Durkin, who will be joined by the guitarist Rupert Boyd and an ensemble of cellists. Set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Montauk School auditorium, the program will connect the music of Bach with the sounds of South America.

Ms. Durkin, who was born in Australia, is an established artist at the Metropolitan Opera, where she replaced Anna Netrebko to great acclaim in “Don Pasquale” and has appeared as well in “La Cenerentola,” “La Sonnambula,” and “La Boheme,” among others. In addition to frequent appearances in Australia, she has performed with opera companies in Spain, Hong Kong, and throughout the United States.

“We have wanted to do Hector Villa-Lobos’s ‘Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5’ for some time,” said Milos Repicky, who with Lilah Gosman and Brendon Moffitt oversees artistic planning and development for Music for Montauk. “We immediately thought of Rachelle Durkin. I had worked Rachelle at the Met. It is a great opportunity to have a major operatic artist offer an intimate and personal performance . . . world class with a personal touch.”

Ms. Durkin will sing “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5” with the cellists Ani Kalayjian, Andrew Yee, Laura Metcalf, and Caleb van der Swaagh, and a Spanish song by Manual de Falla, accompanied by Mr. Boyd, who has performed at Carnegie Hall and at festivals in Spain, China, France, Nepal, and throughout Australia.

The program will begin with Bach’s solo cello suites and include works for cello by living composers such as Caroline Shaw before concluding with the Villa-Lobos piece.

A post-concert party featuring a buffet, drinks, and a chance to meet the artists will take place at Gosman’s restaurant from 5:30 to 7. Reception tickets are $35 in advance at musicformontauk.org and $40 at the door.

Music for Montauk’s summer series will take place from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16 with concerts at Third House in Montauk County Park, Fort Pond House, the Art Barge on Napeague, and the Arts Center at Duck Creek in Springs.

Founded in 1983, Music for Montauk is dedicated to bringing a fresh and dynamic approach to classical music for all members of the community as well as visitors.